The 1963 Army-Navy game is remembered
for its dramatic ending and the atmosphere in which it was played. The event occurred
just 15 days after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, who was set
to toss the coin to start the game.

Now, 50 years after Kennedy's
death, the coin that the late president would have used will be back as part of pre-game ceremonies.

Kennedy was assassinated eight
days before he was set to participate in the coin toss prior to the 1963
Army-Navy game at Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, according to a story in the
Capital Gazette. The Pentagon moved the game back to Dec. 7 following his death,
and, one week after the game, Midshipman Tom Lynch received an unexpected
package. Inside was a Lady Liberty silver dollar and a letter from Cyrus
Vance, who was secretary of the Army at the time.

The letter read:

9 December 1963

Dear Midshipman Lynch,

I am forwarding the coin which the late President Kennedy
would have used and would have presented to you had he made the toss of the
coin at the Army-Navy football game this year. Please accept this memento of a
memorable football game.

With best wishes,

Sincerely, Cyrus R. Vance, Secretary of the Army

A framed copy of the letter and coin was kept at Lynch's
house and traveled with him during his 31-year Navy career. He has now decided
to donate the silver dollar to the Naval Academy and today, as the two teams
ready to square off just after the 50th anniversary of Kennedy's
assassination, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel will use it in pregame
ceremonies.

"I had the coin in my possession for 50 years and that was
long enough. That's a piece of Army-Navy game history and I just felt it would
be meaningful to give that coin back to the Naval Academy so it could be seen
publicly from now on," Lynch said.

Can you guess..

the name of the quarterback for 1963's winning
Navy team? It was Roger Staubach, who after completing his Navy service would
take the Dallas Cowboys to four Super Bowls.